Former lawyer pays high price for P habit

David Flewitt says he is now drug free. Photo / Doug Sherring

He was a high-flying, successful inner-city lawyer - until he destroyed his privileged life with methamphetamine abuse.

Auckland barrister David Flewitt's fall from grace has taken five years. He has now hit rock bottom after being struck off as a lawyer.

Flewitt, 45, had already spent his worldly goods to feed a drug habit. And when there was no money left, Flewitt turned to petty crime as he became estranged from family.

"What is past is past - I can't change that. What I seek is redemption," he told the Herald on Sunday.

"I have paid a high price for [my] hedonistic lifestyle but [I'm] in a good space now. I am focused on my family's needs and continued sobriety. I'm stable, I'm happy, I'm sober.

"It's a powerful stimulant and it took me a while to deal with it - and I have. It's not something that's good for me to dwell on."

Flewitt said he would not put a figure on how much had been spent on methamphetamine. "I had the misfortune to be addicted to an illegal drug rather than a legal one. It is more expensive."

At a recent New Zealand Lawyer's and Conveyancing Tribunal hearing, the panel was told by Flewitt the addiction to P took hold in 2006. To fund it he used his income as a barrister, then his home and other property to pay for the drugs.

When his assets ran dry, Flewitt began using the means of those close to him for money. He then turned to crime.

Flewitt's petty criminal offending included petrol thefts, shoplifting and using friends' credit cards. One illegal credit card payment even went to pay for his Law Society membership.

He was arrested in 2008 and admitted 17 dishonesty convictions and another for assaulting a police officer.

The panel heard Flewitt had six relapses into drug abuse last year but he has been drug free this year.

Flewitt's lawyer Colin Pidgeon QC told the panel of the "tragedy of this promising lawyer's addiction and its consequences". The panel heard Flewitt "lost everything - marriage, home and career".

The panel said Flewitt was not a "fit and proper person" to hold a legal practising certificate, although praised his "open and co-operative approach and the huge effort involved in becoming drug free". Members said Flewitt could regain his practising certificate in the future.

Flewitt's father Phil was thrilled to hear his son was drug free. He said David disappeared from his and wife Cherry's lives in October 2006.

With his UK-based sister, he had travelled to the family home in Whangarei.

Family were concerned at his appearance. "We thought how very ill he looked. A friend said David was on drugs but I couldn't smell anything on him."

At that stage, Flewitt was already caught by the massive financial drain of a methampetamine habit. "He was a very proud, obstinate sort of guy," said Phil Flewitt.

Flewitt disappeared from a Ruakaka motel and that was the last the family saw of him.

"I'm his father. I'd love to hear from him. We want him to know we love him."